The People Next Door (21 page)

She remembered thinking for a while, when she’d met him first, that Greg might be gay. She remembered asking Brian, who’d scoffed at the notion, even though he’d had to admit that Greg had never had a girlfriend he’d known of. But then they heard he’d left the seminary, and soon after that, he’d told them the reason. Greg wasn’t gay, he’d just never met the right woman. Such—

She tensed – was somebody coming? Yes, footsteps approaching from one of the garden paths. She wound up her window as quietly as she could. Maybe if she ducked she wouldn’t be seen.

But then the sound stopped and for a few seconds there was silence. Then she heard the first few notes of a bow being drawn across a violin’s strings. She looked towards Dan’s garden, astonished, but an apple tree hid whoever was playing. Not Dan, surely?

And after a minute, she eased the window down an inch, leaned back again, closed her eyes and let the music wash over her.

‘Hello, Dan.’

He turned and saw his neighbour pushing a trolley in the queue behind him. ‘Hey, how are you?’ He noticed the dark shadows under her eyes.

‘Grand, thanks. The weather’s holding out, isn’t it?’

‘Mmm.’ Dan put his basket at the end of the checkout. ‘How’s Justin?’

‘He’s fine – but his mother’s in hospital having tests so he’s a bit worried about that.’

‘That’s too bad – hope it’s nothing serious.’ He began to transfer his groceries onto the conveyor belt. Natural yoghurt, onions, a fillet of lamb, beef tomatoes, milk, goat’s cheese slid slowly away from him. A very different basket to the one he’d have been checking out a few months ago. ‘Any idea what’s wrong?’

‘Not really. She’s been complaining of headaches lately, so they’re checking it out.’ Kathryn pushed her trolley a little closer to the checkout. Dan saw free-range eggs, a jar of olives, butter, a box of Weetabix,
a packet of funny tea – chamomile or something. ‘How are you getting on these days, Dan?’

If he’d had a cent for every time someone had asked him that lately, he could have retired in the morning.

‘Fine, never better. Lots of work, keeping busy, you know yourself.’ Getting on fine without Ali. Saying it without saying it.

Kathryn was definitely less perky than normal. Probably worried about her mother-in-law.

Dan hadn’t heard a word from his since Ali had left, surprise, surprise. He and Siobhan hadn’t exactly taken to each other; he’d got the distinct impression that she hadn’t considered him good enough for her daughter. Dan wondered what she thought of a fifty-two-year-old farmer.

‘Working hard.’

Yvonne smiled at him. ‘Hi Dan – haven’t seen you in ages.’ She stood and walked towards him, brushing her hands on her jeans.

‘Yeah, I’ve been keeping busy.’ He liked Yvonne. ‘How’s things?’

‘Fine, apart from my disaster of a herb garden.’ She made a face. ‘I’m trying to tame them, but they’re a mess – I’m wondering if I shouldn’t just dig the whole thing up.’

‘That’s funny.’ Dan pointed to a row of little wooden tubs on the far side of his patio, each sprinkled with greenery in various stages of growth.
‘Kieran’s just started a herb garden here. He likes to use them in cooking.’

‘Oh, look at that – so nice and tidy.’ Yvonne smiled. ‘We’re all dying to meet him.’

Dan laughed. ‘I’ll let him know – he’ll be flattered, I’m sure.’

‘So he likes to cook.’

‘Yeah, he’s very good. I’m signing up for classes, actually – I’m crap in the kitchen, compared to him.’

‘You’re going to cookery classes?’

‘Yeah, in the Tech. I’m registering this week.’

‘Well, good luck. Kathryn and I will expect an invitation to dinner when you’re trained up.’

He laughed again. ‘We’ll see.’

‘Well, better get back to this awful job.’ Yvonne half turned away, then said, ‘Oh by the way, I’m assuming Kieran’s the one who plays the violin?’

‘That’s right. You’ve heard him?’

‘Yes – lots of times actually, but I thought it was the radio or something, until just the other evening. He’s good, isn’t he?’

‘Dan? It’s me.’

The same heart flutter whenever he heard her voice. He wondered if it would ever go away. ‘Hi. How are you?’

‘OK. Well, a bit tired, but otherwise …’

‘Still working?’

‘Oh, yes – I’m not giving up till Christmas.’

‘That late? Shouldn’t you go sooner?’

He heard her laugh softly. ‘I’ll be fine.’ A short silence, then she said, ‘I was wondering – well, we were wondering

We. Dan stiffened.

‘… if you’d be willing to meet us and talk about, you know, the arrangements for afterwards. How we’re going to—’

‘No.’ His hand was clenched on the phone. ‘I don’t want to meet him, I never want to – God, how can you even think—’ The rage stopped him

‘OK, sorry.’ She spoke quickly. ‘Really, I’m sorry, I didn’t think. Well, maybe we could meet then, just the two of us?’

‘Or maybe we could do it through solicitors. How about that?’ He pressed disconnect and stood there, fuming.

One step forward, ten steps back.

‘You’re home early.’

‘We closed for stocktaking – I told you this morning.’ Clara opened the fridge. ‘Are we out of water?’

‘It’s on the list. Can you make do with the tap?’ Yvonne arranged potato slices on top of the meat in the casserole dish and bent to put it into the oven. ‘By the way, I was talking to Dan a while ago. Guess what – he’s taking cookery classes.’

Clara turned off the tap. ‘What? Dan?’

‘Well, he says his tenant’s a great cook and has kind of shamed him into it, but I think it’s more to do with Ali being gone – he’s just trying to fill in the time, I’d say.’

Clara sipped water. ‘I wouldn’t even know where to find evening classes.’

Yvonne thought. ‘I think Dan mentioned the Tech.’

‘Right …’ Clara leaned against the sink. ‘Maybe I’ll sign up too – might be a laugh.’

Yvonne stared at her. ‘You? You’re better able to cook than I am.’

Clara smiled. ‘Like I said, it’d be just for the laugh – and there’s always something to learn, I’m sure.’

Yvonne emptied a bag of cooking apples onto the table. ‘It’s kind of sad, though, isn’t it? This is like finally admitting Ali’s not coming back.’ She rummaged in the cutlery drawer.

‘Mmm.’ Clara cradled her glass, one foot kicking absently at the press behind it. ‘Still, if a marriage is over, it’s over. Best to face up to it and move on.’

‘I suppose.’ Yvonne began to peel. ‘Oh, and you know that violin music we keep hearing? It’s not the radio, it’s Dan’s tenant.’

Clara nodded. ‘Yeah, I knew it was him, I forgot to tell you I saw him the other night. He looked a bit weird, standing down there between the trees.’ She sipped from her glass again. Any news on Justin’s mother?’

Yvonne shook her head. ‘No – they haven’t got any results yet. It must be a worry though.’

‘Mmm.’

‘You’ve been spotted.’

‘I have?’

Dan poured boiling water onto his teabag. ‘One of our neighbours – Yvonne, in number seven. She saw you playing the other night. Thought you were the radio up to that.’

Kieran looked interested. ‘Is that the blonde young one?’

Dan laughed. ‘No, it’s her mother. She was very impressed.’

Kieran thought. ‘Don’t think I’ve seen the mother.’

‘Brown hair, nice looking. She has a herb garden out there that could do with your help. I was showing her your tubs

‘You look tired. Any news yet?’

Kathryn shook her head. ‘No but I have to admit I’m not inclined to be too worried. What’s the betting they find nothing? You know what Grainne’s like.’

Yvonne sipped her gin and tonic. ‘But still, if they’re giving her tests, they must be taking the headaches seriously.’

‘Maybe.’ Kathryn shrugged. ‘Or maybe they’re doing it to keep her quiet. She must be the most regular visitor to A & E.’ She tapped a finger against her glass. ‘Might be a good thing, though – I mean, if they do all the tests and find nothing, there’s her credibility gone. But of course Justin’s worried.’

‘Naturally. What time are you expecting him back?’

Kathryn sighed. ‘Anytime now, visiting ends at nine.’ She sipped her wine. ‘So how’s the beautiful Clara? I haven’t seen her in a while.’

Yvonne smiled. ‘She’s fine, thinking of going out to one of the Aran Islands with a few friends next weekend if the weather’s OK. There’s some kind of music festival on.’

‘Sounds good. And no new man on the scene yet?’

Yvonne hesitated. ‘I’m not sure. I thought for a while there might be, but there’s no sign. She’s rarely gone this long without a boyfriend.’

After another pause, Kathryn said, ‘But there might be someone new and she just hasn’t mentioned it.’

‘Could well be, knowing Clara.’ Yvonne sighed. ‘I know I’m always saying it, but I really wish she’d confide in me more, Kath.’

Kathryn said slowly, ‘Maybe you’re as well off. Ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?’

‘There’s something I need to talk to you about.’

Kathryn’s heart skittered. Here it was, what she’d been dreading for weeks now. In a way, it was a relief. ‘What is it?’

Justin sat on the arm of the sofa. He rubbed his eyes. Was he as tired as she felt? ‘I’ve been wanting to tell you for ages, but I wasn’t sure how to.’

Kathryn said nothing. Her hands felt cold. She kept her eyes on his mouth.

‘Look, may as well come out with it.’ He lifted his
head. ‘I want to quit work. I’m not happy there – it’s not for me. I hate being on a computer all day, can’t stand the monotony. I want to leave and do something else.’

Kathryn stared at him. It was so unexpected that she was genuinely lost for words. She didn’t know what to say, hadn’t a clue.

‘You’re shocked.’

‘No, no.’ She found her voice. ‘Surprised – I had no idea, that’s all. I thought you enjoyed your work.’ He’d never mentioned being unhappy there before.

His mouth twisted. ‘I didn’t mind it so much, up to a few months ago, although I was never that mad about it. And then, I don’t know … I’d suddenly had enough of staring at a screen all day.’

‘You’d had enough.’ She was still struggling to adjust. Steeling herself for her husband to announce that he was leaving her, and then to hear this.

Justin nodded. ‘Yeah. I know it must sound a bit weird, out of the blue like this, but I’ve been thinking about it for ages and I can’t not say it any more.’

‘No, you had to. ’ She studied his face, searched it for something else, found nothing.

He held her gaze. ‘So what do you think? Am I crazy, at this stage, to be considering a total change of career?’

Kathryn tried to focus on what he was saying. A total change of career? What did his career matter, compared to their marriage? ‘Well, have you any alternative in mind?’

Justin hesitated. ‘Actually, I have. I always fancied teaching, and now there’s a degree you can get online, I wouldn’t even have to go back to college. I could keep working, study at weekends and maybe in the evenings.’ He was watching her closely. He cared what she thought.

Kathryn spoke slowly. ‘If that’s what you want, then go for it. You have to be happy in your work.’

‘Thank you.’ He reached for her hand and squeezed it. ‘You’re cold.’

‘Just my hands.’

He moved closer. ‘I love you.’

When she didn’t answer, he said, ‘Kath.’

She couldn’t speak.

He put an arm around her. ‘What’s wrong? I know something’s wrong. Tell me.’

She opened her mouth. Why did you buy perfume for someone else? Who were the flowers for? Who were you phoning? This was her chance. He was asking her to tell him. Maybe he wanted her to bring it out into the open.

She couldn’t say it. Saying it was much too terrifying.

‘Nothing, I’m sorry. I’m just a bit fed up lately.’ She tried to smile. ‘I think it’s … turning forty-five.’ Coward, coward.

He drew her into him. ‘You crazy woman. Is that all? You’ve been so miserable lately. It’s just a number. You know I don’t give a damn about that.’

‘I know.’ Her voice was muffled against his chest. Her eyes filled and she blinked away the tears.

‘And you’re really and truly OK about my daft notion?’

‘I am.’ She breathed in the smell of him. ‘If it’s really and truly what you want.’

Maybe it was over. Maybe it had been a mad summer fling and now it was over.

Maybe he really and truly loved her again.

Yvonne fingered the knobbly turquoise stones set in the silver bracelet. ‘You really shouldn’t have.’

‘Well, I did, so let’s have no more of that.’ Greg peered at her over his glasses. ‘Have you decided? Because I have.’

Yvonne scanned the list of dishes. ‘Sorry – too busy admiring my present. What are you getting? I bet it’s the crab claws and the stir-fry.’

He laughed. ‘We’ve definitely been friends for too long.’

‘No, you’re just so predictable. I’m going to have the crispy duck and then the plaice.’ She closed the menu. ‘Now, tell me everything.’

He was tanned and rested looking. Really, he was quite handsome. She knew him too well to appreciate that most of the time. His dark grey shirt was well cut, with a thin blue stripe running through it. She assumed he had plenty of money – what would he spend it on?

‘Well, the villa was quite small, just two bedrooms, and very basically furnished, the bare necessities.
But the area was spectacular. I did some great walking – and of course I visited Florence and Pisa.’

She groaned. ‘I’m sorry I asked. Were they wonderful?’

‘Of course they were. Look at this.’

They went through the photos. He described the food – ‘The basil, the olive oil, the pasta sauces.’

‘And the ice cream – I’ve heard about the ice cream.’